study visa in switzerland
Your dreams of life abroad are closer than you think! Whether you are looking for a degree from a pathway programme, A-level qualifications or language school studentships, Switzerland offers world-class education.
The Swiss government has announced new points system for study visa for candidates coming from around the world. It is based on specific criteria of studies, university and duration of program. Touriago helps students find the best universities in Switzerland and provides accurate and reliable information related to visa procedures to study in Switzerland.
Find out all you need to know about getting a study visa in Switzerland. We’ve tried to list everything you need to help you understand the requirements, how to do it and more.
If you’re looking for a study visa in Switzerland, you’ve come to the right place.
Touriago.com offers the best information on how to get your visa, and we’ll be there every step of the way to answer any questions you might have about immigration or other issues related to studying abroad.
We know how stressful it can be when you’re planning a big move like this, so we want to make sure that you have all the resources you need to make it as easy as possible!
If you’re thinking of studying in Switzerland, there are a few things you need to know.
First and foremost, study visas are issued by the Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country. You cannot apply for a study visa in Switzerland—you must apply through the Swiss embassy or consulate in your region.
Once you’ve secured your visa, you can begin looking for universities that match your needs. You can find these by searching online or talking to friends who have studied abroad before.
You’ll also need to decide whether you want to study at an English-speaking university or one where German is the primary language. The latter option is cheaper but typically less popular with international students because it’s difficult for them to adjust to not being able to speak English at all times (and sometimes even when they do speak it).
Study visas in Switzerland are available for both short-term and long-term study.
The Swiss government has made it easy to get a study visa to live and study in Switzerland, with the following types of permits:
Schengen Visa (C)
This is the most common type of visa and allows you to travel freely within the Schengen Zone countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland).
National Visa (D)
A national visa allows you to stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days per year. After this period expires you must leave the country but can return at any time within 12 months from your last departure date. This type of visa is useful if you plan on coming to Switzerland for short periods of time throughout the year or if you want to visit multiple countries within Europe during one trip.
Residence Permit (F)
If you plan on staying in Switzerland for more than 90 days per year or indefinitely then a residence permit would be necessary. This type of permit will allow you to work legally by obtaining an employment contract from a Swiss employer who has been approved by the government.
Where do I apply?
The first step, after getting the acceptance letter from your university, should be setting an appointment with the Swiss embassy or consulate in your area. These procedures take time, so make sure to set the appointment 6 months prior to your studying. The processing time for the short stay visas is around 10-15 days and for long-stay visas, eight to ten weeks
Your documents will need to be in French, German, or English. If they are not that language, you will need a certified translation of those documents.
Switzerland Student Visa Requirements
Applying for a visa can be a bureaucratic and tiring experience.
- Application for a long-stay visa (visa D) – three forms, filled and signed
- Four passport-size photographs
- Passport – valid three months beyond the planned stay
- Letter of acceptance issued by a Swiss university
- Proof of payment of the registration and tuition fees – original and copy
- Proof of sufficient financial coverage of living costs in Switzerland for the duration of schooling (21,000 CHF or 19,200 EUR at the beginning of each year of your studies)
- Scholarship/Loan proof – Letter of an institution that all expenses for the study will be covered by the scholarship or loan
- CV
- Letter of motivation
- Commitment to leave Switzerland on completion of studies
Younger than 18
If you’re younger than 18 when you’re applying for a Switzerland Visa, then you’ll be needing a few additional documents, such as:
- Birth certificate of the minor
- Application form (signed by both parents)
- Certified ID/passport copies of both parents
If you’re traveling with another person besides your parents, you’ll also be needing:
- Accompanying person’s passport page (original and copy)
- A notarized parental authorization that allows you to travel to Switzerland (signed by both parents)
In cases where only one parent has full custody, then you’ll also be needing a family court order.
Language requirements
You won’t be required to provide language proof for a Swiss visa. However, the universities you’ll be applying to will require language proficiency proof for foreign students in Switzerland, which is usually enough for the Swiss embassy.
Some of the most known English language tests that Swiss universities accept are:
- TOEFL iBT
- IELTS Academic
- PTE Academic
There may be cases when the embassy wants to evaluate your language, and they can do that through a short interview or written and oral tests. After that, the Swiss representation sends your entry application along with your documents and language proficiency assessments to the Canton Migration Authorities for approval.
Visa Cost
The visa cost may vary depending on your country of origin; however, the prices don’t have a vast difference between countries. When you’re applying for a Swiss visa, you’ll have to pay a fee of 50 to 100 CHF to your Swiss embassy or consulate.
Steps to get a student visa for Switzerland
- Accept a university offer: You may also need to pay a deposit or fee to secure your place.
- Book an appointment with a Swiss embassy or consulate: This is for your visa interview and to present your application form and documents to an official. Not all nationalities will be required to do this.
- Attend your interview: Provide the requested documents, including a visa application form.
- Receive a decision: This may take up to 12 weeks.
- Apply for a residence permit: You have 14 days after your arrival in Switzerland to register for your residence permit at a cantonal migration office. Your permit may take some weeks to be created, so you might be provided with a temporary document.
Student dependents with a National Visa D
Any spouse or dependent children you have may be able to join you in Switzerland under family reunification. Family members can also work.
As a student, you will have to show that you can financially support your family in addition to you, and have ample accommodation for them.
Switzerland student visa requirements
At various points throughout the student visa and residence permit process, Swiss immigration may ask for some of the following documents:
- Valid passport
- Confirmation of enrollment at a recognized Swiss educational institution
- Proof of finances and the ability to support yourself while in Switzerland
- Proof of healthcare insurance
- Motivation letter outlining why you want to come to Switzerland to study and how this will be beneficial to your career
- Copies of previous educational certificates and diplomas
- A signed letter confirming that you will leave Switzerland at the end of the course
Swiss student visa processing time
It can take between 8 and 12 weeks to process your visa, so it’s well worth starting your application as soon as possible.
Try to start at least three months before you need to travel, but ideally, you should start your application as soon as you receive your offer from a Swiss university.
Working whilst studying in Switzerland
Studying in Switzerland as an international student also means you can work up to 15 hours a week part-time during term time and full-time in university holidays — this is providing you have been in Switzerland for more than six months.
If you are working towards a PhD in Switzerland you can also work part-time up to 15 hours but you don’t need to have been in Switzerland for six months to start.
Employers need to organize a student visa work permit for you, and you need to continue being a full-time student and make sufficient progress on your program.
Submitting the Switzerland student visa application
You apply for the Swiss student visa at the Swiss representation in your country. The procedure for applying for a student visa for Switzerland is largely similar to the application procedure for all Switzerland visas.
The application procedure for a Swiss student visa is as follows:
- Make an appointment at your country’s Swiss representation (embassy/consulate).
- Download, fill in and sign the application form. (In some cases, you can find the application forms at the Swiss representation where you apply.)
- Submit the documents in person at the Swiss embassy/consulate.
- Pay the Swiss student visa fee.
After you submit your Swiss student visa application, the Swiss representation in your country will forward it to the competent cantonal migration office* in Switzerland. After the cantonal immigration office authorizes your application, the Consulate General of Switzerland will give you the visa.
*Switzerland has 26 cantons, and the migration office of each canton decides who they will issue visas to.
Conclusion
Coming in nearly at the top of our list is Touriago. This company is one of the most experienced and widely respected firms in the visa-in-Switzerland industry, and they serve a huge variety of clients from all around the globe. If you want to study in Switzerland, they are certainly a great option to consider, and they could very well be the right choice for your needs. It will come as no surprise to avid readers of this guide that Touriago was given five stars out of five by our experts in terms of their reputation and on-the-ground performance. The caliber of services offered by this company are second to none, and it just goes to show that hard work really does pay off.